ERC-4883: Composable SVG NFT

Compose an SVG NFT by concatenating the SVG with the rendered SVG of another NFT.

Abstract

Compose an SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) NFT by concatenating the SVG with the SVG of another NFT rendered as a string for a specific token ID.

Motivation

Onchain SVG NFTs allow for NFTs to be entirely onchain by returning artwork as SVG in a data URI of the tokenUri function. Composability allows onchain SVG NFTs to be crafted. e.g. adding glasses & hat NFTs to a profile pic NFT or a fish NFT to a fish tank NFT.

Specification

The key words “MUST”, “MUST NOT”, “REQUIRED”, “SHALL”, “SHALL NOT”, “SHOULD”, “SHOULD NOT”, “RECOMMENDED”, “MAY”, and “OPTIONAL” in this document are to be interpreted as described in RFC 2119.

/// @title EIP-4883 Non-Fungible Token Standard
interface IERC4883 is IERC165 {
    function renderTokenById(uint256 id) external view returns (string memory);
}

renderTokenById must return the SVG body for the specified token id and must either be an empty string or valid SVG element(s).

Rationale

SVG elements can be string concatenated to compose an SVG.

Ordering of concatenation

SVG uses a “painters model” of rendering.

Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) 1.1 (Second Edition), section: 3.3 Rendering Order

Elements in an SVG document fragment have an implicit drawing order, with the first elements in the SVG document fragment getting “painted” first. Subsequent elements are painted on top of previously painted elements.

The ordering of the SVG concatenation determines the drawing order rather than any concept of a z-index.

This EIP only specifies the rendering of the rendered SVG NFT and does not require any specific ordering when composing. This allows the SVG NFT to use a rendered SVG NFT as a foreground or a background as required.

Alternatives to concatenation

SVG specifies a link tag. Linking could allow for complex SVGs to be composed but would require creating a URI format and then getting ecosystem adoption. As string concatenation of SVG’s is already supported, the simpler approach of concatenation is used.

Sizing

This EIP doesn’t specify any requirements on the size of the rendered SVG. Any scaling based on sizing can be performed by the SVG NFT as required.

Render function name

The render function is named renderTokenById as this function name was first used by Loogies and allows existing deployed NFTs to be compatible with this EIP.

Backwards Compatibility

This EIP has no backwards compatibility concerns

Security Considerations

• SVG uses a “painters model” of rendering. A rendered SVG body could be added and completely obscure the existing SVG NFT artwork.
• SVG is XML and can contain malicious content, and while it won’t impact the contract, it could impact the use of the SVG.

Copyright

Copyright and related rights waived via CC0.

Citation

Please cite this document as:

Andrew B Coathup (@abcoathup), Alex (@AlexPartyPanda), Damian Martinelli (@damianmarti), blockdev (@0xbok), Austin Griffith (@austintgriffith), "ERC-4883: Composable SVG NFT [DRAFT]," Ethereum Improvement Proposals, no. 4883, March 2022. [Online serial]. Available: https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-4883.